A concise approach to the major themes and events that define contemporary South Carolina

The captivating, colorful, and controversial history of South Carolina continues to warrant fresh explorations. In this sweeping story of defining episodes in the state's history, accomplished historians Jack Bass and W. Scott Poole trace the importance of race relations, historical memory, and cultural life in the progress of the Palmetto State from its colonial inception to the present day.

In the discussion of contemporary South Carolina that makes up the majority of this volume, the authors map the ways through which hard-won economic and civil rights advancements, a succession of progressive state leaders, and federal court mandates operated in tandem to bring a largely peaceful end to the Jim Crow era in South Carolina, in stark contrast to availablethe violence wrought elsewhere in the South. This volume speaks directly to the connections between the state's past, present, and future, and it serves as a valuable point of entrance for new inquiries into South Carolina's diverse and complex heritage.

Jack Bass is a professor emeritus of humanities and social sciences at the College of Charleston. He is the author or coauthor of seven other books about the American South.

W. Scott Poole is an associate professor of history at the College of Charleston. Poole is the author of six previous volumes on American history.

"Bold, diverse, succinct, informative, and relevant are fitting adjectives to describe the strengths of this significant book…. Bass and Poole's most significant contribution is demonstrating
how the state's past shapes both its present and future."—South Carolina Historical Magazine

"A volume such as The Palmetto State is long overdue. It is a lively read, full of interesting facts."—Charleston (S.C.) Post & Courier

"There have been many histories of our state, but I've never seen one that seems quite as thorough, concise, and fair-minded as The Palmetto State…. The authors cover it all: politics; the role of religion; popular culture, including jazz and the shag; the growth of our educational system; and the factors behind the dynamic economic development from agriculture to industry and tourism."—Hilton Head (S.C.) Island Packet

"The authors have written a book that will be of special interest to both the native-born and the recently arrived. It is carefully researched, frequently anecdotal, and an easy read."—Choice